Couple's baby born on the same day they lost their home in a tornado

Sam and Blake Martz welcomed a baby, celebrated Sam’s birthday, and lost their home to a tornado, all on the same day. (Photo: ABC 33/40)

Sam and Blake Martz’s baby girl Sawyer-Ann was born on the same day the couple lost their home in a tornado. The baby, who arrived on Aug. 31, was actually born on mother Sam’s birthday as well. “To have Sawyer on her birthday is the best present you can get,” Sam’s father, Matt Tyer, told local news channel ABC 33/40.

And while the couple was overjoyed at their new baby and birthday gift, they couldn’t help worrying about where they were supposed to take her home. A tree fell on their home in Fayette, Ala., while they were in the hospital in Tupelo, Miss. Tyer recalled how it happened.

“I got a call that their home had been hit by a tornado. I held her for a couple of minutes and then it was off to Fayette,” he said.

The couple’s church and community are coming together to help them out. Folks like Brad Cox and Kasey Kennedy, who attend church with the Martzes, helped clear debris from the damaged home and move their belongings into a new home that was found for them — just one street away from their church, in fact.

“I have never been more proud of my church or the community of Fayette than I am today,“ Cox told the TV cameras.

The tornado that ripped through the community came in the wake of the Harvey storm. It was one of three tornadoes that were confirmed by the National Weather Service on Friday. This particular tornado hit Fayette, Pickens, and Lamar counties in Alabama and was clocked having peak winds of 115 mph.

There is a GoFundMe page set up for donations for the Martz family. At the time of this report, it had just passed its $5,000 goal, which makes it appear that Sawyer-Ann will be getting all the things a newborn needs.